RAWALPINDI: Imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Monday strongly criticized the much-hyped judicial-centric constitutional package shrouded in secrecy, saying the ruling coalition was trying to introduce constitutional changes in a bid to preserve it. behind bars. “The new amendments would destroy the future of the country,” Khan said during an informal chat with reporters at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. Targeting the ruler, he said, “They have decided to destroy the judiciary.” When asked about his opinion on a separate court for constitutional cases, the jailed former prime minister had a different opinion, as he believed that “the current rulers are afraid of the Supreme Court and that’s why they want to set up a [separate] constitutional court”. The cricketer-turned-politician further alleged that the federal government was involved in these practices “to hide electoral fraud”. The main opposition party has long campaigned that the February 8 general election was “rigged”, which it says took away its big election victory through “manipulation of results through Form 47”. “They fear that everything will turn upside down if election-related matters are exposed,” he added. Announcing his future strategy, the PTI founder said his party would never remain silent and register a strong protest against the coalition government’s moves. The finance ministry and the opposition have been at loggerheads in both houses of parliament over the current government’s upcoming constitutional amendment bill, which reportedly includes a bill to extend the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa – which is set. to retire this October — the same as the retirement age of judges. However, to successfully pass any constitutional change, the government needs to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament. The ruling coalition apparently fell short of the required numbers, a two-thirds majority in parliament, despite a concerted effort on Sunday that was likely centered around a deal by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. to the proposed changes. . After failing to woo the JUI-F chief, the government decided to “indefinitely postpone” the presentation of the constitutional package. Senator Irfan Siddiqui, chairman of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), told Geo News that while Fazl’s “arguments were well-reasoned”, he was not opposed to the amendments on principled grounds. . He added that Fazl needed more time to consider the amendment. On the other hand, the opposition parties — PTI and JUI-F — have accused the government of keeping quiet about the content of the constitutional amendments, the original draft of which should be submitted to Parliament for consideration before approval. In the National Assembly, the government lacks 13 votes to adopt the aforementioned constitutional amendment, and nine votes in the Senate.
